Process for the manufacture of brass



NITED STATES TENT F F ICE PAUL DUTOIT, OF LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO ALEXIS BOEVER, OF LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND.

PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BRASS.

No Drawing.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL D'UTOIT, professor at the University of Lausanne, citizen of Switzerland, residing at Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, in the Confederation of Switzerland, have invented a certain new and Improved Process for the Manufacture of Brass, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture and purifying of brass beginning with its elements (zinc and copper), or its waste such as for example the scum, the ashes, the slag.

In carrying out this process I introduce the metal to be melted into a bath of molten salt, the temperature of which is higher than the fusion temperature of the brass, and whi h does not react with the zinc or the copper The brass gathers in a melted state at the bottom of the bath whereas the impurities float on the surface of the latter.

I have found that the most suitable salt for carrying out the process is chloride of barium.

In order to melt the salt and to maintain it in a melted state, any suitable means may be employed and the temperature of the heating device maintained by a gas flame orelectric current.

My improved process has the following advantages over the processes commonly employed and with which I am acquainted:

It prevents any loss of zinc.

It makes it possible to obtain a metal perfectly homogeneous by the utilization, with 'out former treatment, of raw material, which up to the present time has been impossible in the manufacture of brass, unless the brass is first specially prepared.

It supplies a product of superior quality from a physical standpoint and a product which contains no foreign bodies, such as slag for instance.

It decreases the loss in casting and suppresses the formation of scum and casting ashes.

Lastly it realizes a large economy of caloric energy.

In explaining a practical manner of carrying out this invention and which has been followed in practice, a suitable furnace or retort is employed and in which there is a compartment for receiving one or more of the salts employed as the melting agency,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1922.

Application filed September 10, 1919. Serial No. 322,924.

the configuration of the melting chamber therein may be such as to carry out the invention conveniently but form no material part of the same. The metal to be melted which may be brass or its elements of zinc and copper or waste brass or other material is then introduced into the molten mass of the barium chloride or other salt in relatively small pieces and also the amount of the metal admitted and melted at any one time is relativelysmall considering its volume as well as its weight in comparison with the volume of the salt employed to melt the same. The molten salt furnishes all the heat necessary to melt the metal and to rid the same of its impurities. Furthermore, the density of the molten salt being greater than that of the impurities from the metal, these impurities rise to and float on the surface, while the molten metal collects at the bottom of the bath, such being the'case, the impurities may be removed from the bath in the form of a scum and of course the brass or other metal may be run from the furnace and poured into suitable molds for casting. The process herein described, while adapted for use in the manufacture of brass from its elements, copper and zinc, is also adapted and more particularly so to the melting of waste brass, such for example, as brass shavings, chips, filings and the like. It will, therefore, be .understood that the term raw elements as herein employed includes not only the elements from which brass is made, but also brass shavings, filings, chips and the like.

I claim as my invention:

1. The hereinbefore described process of manufacturing brass from raw elements, consisting in raising the temperature of a salt suflicientlyto make the same a molten mass,and introducing into the molten mass of salt'in relatively small quantities at a time the raw materials in order that the heat of the molten salt bath may be utilized in melting the metal, the density of the the salt being intermediate that of the raw elements and the slags thereof, whereby the introducing copper and zinc in relatively small quantities into the bath so that the heat thereof is utilized in melting the metals to cause the metals to settle to the bottom of the bath While the impurities float to and remain on the surface thereof.

3. The hereinbefore described process of masses manufacturing brass, consisting in electrically raising the temperature of barium chloride sufficiently to reduce the same to a molten mass, the density of the barium chloride being intermediate that of the copper and zinc and the impurities that may be associated therewith when placed in the bath, and then in introducin; copper and zinc in relatively small quantities into the bath so that the heat thereof is utilized in melting the metals to cause the metals to settle to the bottom of the bath While the impurities float to andremain on the surface thereof. y

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

- PAUL DITOIT.

Witnesses:

DR. Rob. on WURTEMBERGER, Trmooonn TINER. 

